Man Arrested On Charge Of Spreading HIV

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A man who knew he was HIV and had unprotected sex without telling his partner about his potential to get the virus was recently arrested, according to police.

WJXT's Emily Pantelides spoke with victim, who is awaiting his HIV test results.

The man said his 11-year-old sister is the most important thing in his life, but instead of thinking about her and her new video games last Christmas, all he was able to think about was getting HIV.

"My holidays were destroyed, laying at wake at night crying, wondering if you're going to get it and what you have to do. I don't want to be one of them people where if I ever want to go on a date with someone, I have to tell them, I have to let them know, 'Oh, I'm going to have let you know I'm HIV positive.' That's disgraceful. It really is," he said.

According to a police report, the man met 53-year-old Frank Price in a bar and over the course of six days and the two had consensual sex three times.

"I was never told before that he was HIV positive," he said.

The police report says on the third sexual encounter, Price "disclosed to him that he has had HIV for 19 years."

The man said he immediately called police.

"I feel betrayed. I was lied to," he said. "This is not like I have a head cold or a chest cold. We're talking about something major in my life. My life is at stake."

"You've got a very dangerous situation where someone is playing with another person's life due to the deadliness of this disease," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson.

Jefferson called the case unusual, saying rarely does he see a charge like the one against Price on a police report.

"I hope that the message gets across loud and clear that you can be charged and go to jail," Jefferson said.

The man said his final HIV test is expected to come back in about two weeks.

Price told WJXT by phone that he didn't do anything wrong.

Price is facing a third-degree felony charge, which could get him up to five years in prison.

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